Distilling apparatus for volatile liquids



H. A. HILLS DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 14. 1921 Oct. 26 19 Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

1,604,353 PATENT ,oF'FIcE.

HENRY A. H'ILLs, OFGRAND imr rns, men-ream DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS.

Application filed January 14, 1921. Serial No. 437,136.

This invention relates to distilling and purifying processes and apparatus for volatile liquids designed more particularly for use in connection with the purifying of gasoline employed for cleaning of clothing and other articles.

This application is a continuation in part of my Patent #1,372,880, dated March 29,

1921, for a distilling and purifying apparatus for volatile liqulds.

A considerable amount of cleaning fluid such as gasoline, benzine, and the like is used for cleaning, and in using large quantities of such li uids it is necessary to recover and purify t e liq uid so that it may be used over and over again.

The processes'and apparatus heretofore used for the purification of gasoline have not been satisfactory, particularly when the gasoline or other liquid contains large quantities. of impurities. In the first place, when the gasoline or other liquid contains a considerable amount of impurities, foaming takes place in the still with the result that the impurities rise to the surfaceof the liquid in the form of scum forming an envelope around the bubbles in the froth which is produced with the result that the impurities are mechanically carried over into the con denser. Further, with the prior forms of still, excessive quantities of steam were used and the water condensed from such steam was only partially removed from the condensed gasoline or other liquid.

One of the principal objects, therefore, of this improvement is to provide, a distilling and purifying process and apparatus for volatile fluids in which foaming is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for rapidly circulating the fluid in the still in a vertical plane to draw any scum on the surface down into the body of the fluid and mix it therewith.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a rocess for purifyin volatile cleaning fluids by heating the steam coils and at the same time violently a itating the fluid by the direct application 0 tor, whereby a partial vacuum is created and vaporization rendered more easy.

It is also an ob'ect of the invention to provide means where y the agitation of the fluid in the still may be continued practlcally as long as any fluidremainstherein.

of the still.

ui'd with steam to the fluid, by means of an aspira-- this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. On the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of anapparatus embodying the principles of my invention and adapted to carry out my improved process with certain elements of the system shown 1n section.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the steam inlet nozzle and the adjacent parts As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole the still which, as shown, consists of an upright cylinder provided with a conical cover or, end 2 into which an outlet pipe 3 is connected. .Said cylinder 1 is provided with a sloping bottom 4 into which'a drain or outlet pipe 5 valved at 6 is provided, a valved inlet pipe 5 being provided, near the upper end of said cylinder. Mounted in the lower end of the still 1 is a steam coil 7, the inlet to which from a supply pipe 8 1s controlled by a valve 9, andthe outlet from which is controlled, by a valve 10. Also connected into the supply pipe 8 is a valve 11 controlling the flow through a nozzle 12 within the still, which is adapted to introduce steam directly into the fluid within the still. Said nozzle 12 is shown in section in Figure 2 and consists of a reducing coupling 30v into which a short length of pipe 31 of reduced diameter is connected and threaded ontov the coupling 30.

Enclosing said pipe 31 is a shell 32 to. the rear end of which is connected a pipe 33. lhe steam passing through this nozzle is adapted to draw fluid through the pipe 33 and project it forcibly and rapidly acrossthe still. This fluid strikes against the upper part-of the inclined bottom 4 of thestlll and is thereby deflected upwards so that such fluid is caused to circulate in substantially a vertical plane so as to draw down the scum on ,the surface of the fluid and keep the latter thoroughly agitated. -In view of the fact that the pipe 33 extends downwards to a point adjacent the bottom of .the still,'agitation of the fluid within the still Wlll continue after the level of fluid in the still has fallen below the nozzle 12 and continue so long as the-lower end of the pipe 33 is covered b fluid.

Mounted adjacent the still 1 is a condenser 13 comprising an upright cylinder open at its upper end and at its lower end provided with acrown sheet or plate 14 beneath which is a conical bottom 15. Cdnnected sealingly through said crown sheet 14 are a series of upright tubes 16 which at their upper ends are sealed in a plate 17 on which a conical top or cover 18 is riveted, brazed, or otherwise secured-and into which said pipe 3 from the still 1 is connected, An i let pipe 20 is connected into the lower end the cylinder 13 to admit a flow of cooling water to surround the condenser tubes 16, and an outlet 21 is provided at a convenient point in the upper end of said cylinder 13. vAn

'outlet pipe 22 is connected to the conical bottom 15 of the condenser to receive the condensed distillate and said pipe leads into a. tee into which a vent pipe 23 is connected as well as a pipe 24 leading to a separator 25 designed to separate the moisture from the volatile fluid. As the separator forms n6 part of the present invention it need'not be described in detail.

The 0 'eration is as follows:

The uid for distillation and purification is introduced into the still or cylinder 1, through the valved pipe 5, and steam is then admitted through the heating coil 7 by opening the valve 9. The utilization of the steam coil, as well as the direct introduction of steam through the nozzle 12 into the fluid for heating the same, efiects an economical operation of the still, for the reason that by using a combination of the dry and wet method of distillation a much less volume of steam is used than in either the.

dry or wet methods singly. The steam coil is utilized to bring the contents of the still to the vaporization point, and after vaporization has been set up the wet steam is introduced through the nozzle 12 directly into the fluid to com lete the distillatiomand it is obvious that y proper manipulation of the valves controllin the respective steam supplies to the still, t e most efiicient operation for various conditions may be obtained. The horizontal nozzle 12 serves also by the introduction of steam therethrough, to set up a violent swirling motion to the contents of the still, this agitation contributing largely to the effectiveness of operation as well as the efliciency or economy, as all the possible heating efiect of the coils and jet is utilized. Furthermore, due to the construction of the steam inlet nozzle 12 pounding action within the still due to the steam jet is obviated, said nozzle operating as an injector to draw the liquid inwardl through the pipe 33 and force the same with the jet of steam into the contents of the still. The products of distillation pass the suction action created by the steam which issues from the pipe 31, inside the shell 32. In this way a continuous circulation of the liquid in the still will be maintained at all times even when the level of the liquid has,

dropped to below the entrance of the nozzle 12 and as the pipe 33 extends to practically the bottom of the still this circulation will be maintained no matter how littleliquid there is in the still.

On account of the fact that the mixture of steam and liquid issuing from the nozzle 12 impinges against the inclined'bottom 4 of the still the circulation of the liquid in a vertical plane as before explainedwill be set up and maintained, and further the suction til) at the bottom of the still owing ,to the action of the pipe 33 will tend to increase and maintain this swirling action of the liquid as the liquid will rise upon one side of the tank 1 and descend upon the other in order to fill the space occupied by thewithdrawal of'fluid immediately in the vicinity of the entrance of the pipe 33. a

In the purification of cleanin fluid such as gasoline, one of the chief de ects of the prior forms of apparatus is that foaming occurs,- with the result that im urities in the fluid are carried over mechanically into the condenser along with the va orof the fluid.

Now, when gasoline is heate' in an ordinary still, a large quantity of impurities therein rise to the top in the form of a scum, and as ebullition proceeds the bubbles of gasoline va or forcing their way to the surface throng the layer of scumbecome enveloped lltl thereby so that a froth is formed which fills up until the entire vapor space of the still is filled with a foam or froth which is finally carried over mechanically into the condenser. Now this froth contains a large uantity ofthe original impurities so that t e final product is nearly as dirty as the original product. It will be seen that in this invention the production of froth is entirely avoided on account of the violent stirring of the liquid in thestill that is produced by the particular nozzle of apfplicant. Especially us to the circulation o the contents of the still in a vertical plane any scum which rises to the surface of the fluid is again drawn down into the body of the fluid which is chiefly'due to the suction action of the pipe with the original fluid so that there is no such accumulation of dirt at the surface of the liquid as will enable a froth to form.

I am aware that the details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departin from the principles of this invention and ftherefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a still for purifying cleansing liquids, a nozzle horizontally disposed adjacent the bottom of the still adapted to inject steam into the liquid therein, a sleeve surrounding said nozzle and spaced therefrom to provide an annular chamber therearound, a pipe attached to the rear of said chamber and extending to the bottom. of the still, for supplying fluid through the chamber simultaneously with the exhaust from the nozzle,

and means for deflecting said injected steam and fluid upward.

2. In a still for purifyin cleansing liquids, a bottom therefor inc ined downwardly from one side to the other, a nozzle horizontally disposed adjacent said bottom and adapted to inject steam into the li uid in said still and against said inclined ottom, a sleeve surrounding said nozzle and spaced therefrom to provide an annular chamber therearound, and a pipe attached to the rear of said chamber and extending downward to near the still bottom at its lowermost point for supplying fluid through the chamber simultaneously with the exhaust from the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HENRY A. HILLS. 

